President Joe Biden's pick to become the next United States ambassador to Israel is banking on one Republican to save his nomination following a tense confirmation hearing this week.
Biden nominated Jack Lew, who served as the secretary of the treasury under former President Barack Obama, for the ambassadorship, a position that remains empty as Washington supports Israel amid its escalating conflict with Hamas.
The Palestinian militant group attacked Israel on October 7 by land, air and sea. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying his country was "at war" and vowing to "demolish Hamas."
Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine to Gaza. As of Thursday, at least 3,478 people in Gaza and 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the conflict, according to the Associated Press.
Biden has voiced support for Israel, saying its military has a right to defend itself. He traveled to the Middle Eastern country this week to meet with leadership—but the position of the U.S.'s top diplomat to Israel remains empty.
Lew faced tough questions from Senate Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee, with some raising concerns about his ability to confront Iran, an adversary to both the United States and Israel. Some Republicans suggested they do not believe he is the right candidate for the position during his tense confirmation hearing Wednesday.
He is now reportedly banking on support from one former Republican senator to combat GOP opposition.
Senator Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican, told Lew that he would stick up for him amid GOP skepticism about his qualifications, The Hill journalist Laura Kelly reported.
Portman led a 2018 investigation into the Obama administration, which allegedly allowed Iran access to the U.S. financial system, despite sanctions. The investigation found that the administration misled Congress about the matter and was largely based on testimony from Lew, The Washington Post reported in 2018.
"Lew said he talked to Sen Rob Portman last night, in response to GOP criticisms of oversight investigation about Obama admin policy on providing Iranian funds in exchange for JCPOA, suggests Sen. Portman will stand up for him as 'someone who keeps my word,'" Kelly wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Portman has not publicly responded to Lew's comments. Newsweek reached out to Portman for comment via email.
During the confirmation hearing, Republican senators grilled Lew over his role in the Obama administration's negotiations in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which provides Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for the country reversing progress on its nuclear program. Republicans have been sharply critical of the agreement, arguing that there is no guarantee Iran would uphold their side of the deal.
Idaho Senator Jim Risch said he has "reservations" about Lew's ability to deal with an Iranian threat, the Associated Press reported.
"Not only will you need to support Israel as it responds to these attacks, but also as it contends with the enduring, and indeed existential, Iranian threat, which I think is an underlying and foundational issue here. I have reservations about your ability to do that," he said.
Democrats, however, point to Lew's years of government experience to make the case he is qualified for the role. He emphasized that there is "no greater mission than to be asked to strengthen the ties between the United States and the State of Israel" during the hearing.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more
